9 hacks for booking a hotel cheaply

 Hotel accommodation, though a traditional travel component, is often costly. But don’t worry, we’ll show you some ways to score a low rate.

 1. Get notified by Kayak

You can sign up for price alerts on Kayak, and the site will let you know via email when the price for the hotel of your dreams drops.

 2. Get an unwanted room

There are some services that list available options after late bookings cancellations for a reduced price. The examples of such sites are Cancelon and Roomer.

 3. Coupons are your friends

Always check coupon sites like Living Social and Groupon for hotel deals, even more so if you like those accommodations on a more expensive end of the spectrum – this way you’ll save more.

 4. Use airline miles

Yes, you can use those miles to pay for a hotel less! Find out more about your airline rewards before making the next booking.

 5. Credit card points can be used, too

You can get huge bonus points by just signing up for a credit card service like spending a particular sum of money. This can allow you to book a hotel much cheaper. Next time you travel, talk to your bank’s representative to learn about available bonuses.

6. Become a member for discounts

You can join travel organizations to get special discounts for members. AAA members get cheaper hotels (and cars). With an International Student Identity Card (for those younger than 35), you can save on hotels worldwide.

 7. Check out last minute deals

On a site called Priceline, there are Express Deals for truly last-minute hotel rooms. Even though this way you can get up to 60% off, be careful – no one can guarantee that you’ll get the accommodation if you wait till the very last minute. If you like taking risks, try it out. Hotel Tonight is a similar app with the help of which you can book a hotel last minute at much lower rates.

 8. Write hotel reviews on Yonderbound for money

Even if you aren’t a travel blogger, you can still participate. Just sign up to write reviews for Yonderbound like on other sites like Trip Advisor. However, with this service, you get 70% of the sales profit when a person makes a reservation having read your review. Great way to make staying in hotels cheaper!

 9. Just ask

When you know what hotel to book, call there or send an email and try to negotiate a better price. Worst case scenario, you will pay the same amount of money. However, you may well get a free room upgrade or a good discount. This is especially useful for longer trips as hotels are more interested in them. Remember: it doesn’t hurt to ask.